Pulmonary embolism caused by intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery

Intern Med. 2012;51(21):3031-4. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7558. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 39-year-old woman with a pulmonary embolism caused by intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery. She presented with shortness of breath and leg edema. Computed tomography showed a low density area that extended from the main pulmonary artery to the bilateral pulmonary arteries. We diagnosed her to have a pulmonary thromboembolism. The thrombosis did not decrease after the administration of anti-coagulant therapy, and she underwent resection of the thrombotic tissue. Histopathologically, the surgical specimen was not found to be thrombotic tissue but rather an intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery. After undergoing surgery, she received radiation therapy and chemotherapy; however, she died 31 months after being diagnosed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pulmonary Artery* / pathology
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / pathology
  • Pulmonary Embolism / surgery
  • Sarcoma / complications*
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis
  • Sarcoma / therapy
  • Tunica Intima / pathology
  • Vascular Neoplasms / complications*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Vascular Neoplasms / therapy